Apparatus for feeding and ejecting



N9"- 1945. c. D. RYAN 2,389,551

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES ori inal Filed Dec. 2, 1941* 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Commodore D- Ryan BY EYS 7 sheet 2 C.-D. RYAN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVEILOPES Original Fil ed Dec. 2, 1941 s \N w u m W y w /T M MD V T w 0 1H M N s @o W A $5 mww M .N Co My w 11 YO. fi m O 5%. O e o l 0 ll.

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C. D. RYAN Nov. 20, 1945.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1941 INYZE NTOR 7m:

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Nov. 20, 1945. c. D. RYAN 2,389,551

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Cog lmodore 11R an T RNEYS' N A Y R D c APPARATUS FOR'FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet. 6

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Coggmuclo Nov. 20, 1945. c. D. RYAN 2,389,551

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES Original Filed Dec; 2, 1941 7 h h 7 INVENTOR Commodore ,D. Pym

ww amy/ Ml ATT NEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1945 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND EJECTING ENVELOPES Commodore D. Ryan, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Commercial Controls Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application December 2, 1941, Serial No. 421,321. Divided and this application October 16, 1942, Serial No. 462,262

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for feeding mail matter through and ejecting it from a mail treating machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide envelope feeding and ejecting apparatus for a mail treating machine which is simple and sturdy in construction and capable of efficient operation at a high rate of speed. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature capable of efiiciently handling envelopes and cards of various widths, lengths, and thicknesses without mutilation thereof. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above nature which can be safely operated at high speed in feeding mail matter from the receiving end of the machine and ejecting it at the delivery end thereof. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This application is a division of the application of Commodore D. Ryan, Serial No. 421,321, filed December 2, 1941. r

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings, in which there is shown one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the mail treating machine;

Figure 2' is an enlarged sectional elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1, showing the envelope feed hopper, the stripper, and the envelope conveying mechanism;

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional elevation similar to Figure 2, showing the driving means for the envelope feed conveyor set for slow feed operation, preferably used when treating relatively long envelopes;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the driving means for the envelope conveyor set for high speed operation, which is preferably used for treating relatively short envelopes;

Figure 5 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing in enlarged detail certain portions of the mechanism shown in the lower right-hand part of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view taken generally along the line I-'| of Figure 1 to illustrate the relation between the final sealing rollers and the printing drum, and illustrating the manner in which the pressure roller is automatically. released to swing to its retracted position when the tape feeding device is moved to its operative feeding position;

Figure 8 is a fragmental sectional view similar to Figure 7 but not including the tape feeding device;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 8; and,

Figure 10 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-40 of Figure 6 showing the platen roller, its driving shaft, and associated parts.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

As shown in Figure 1, the mailing machine is provided with a conveyor table I which is spaced a short distance from the intermediate frame plate lfil of the machine in order to provide space for the depending flaps of the envelopes conveyed by the conveying mechanism to be described hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 5, an envelope 166 is shown in position on conveyor plate I65 to be conveyed along the conveyor table. When envelope I66 is unsealed, its flap hangs down over the inner edge of the conveyor plate I65 in the space between the conveyor plate and the intermediate frame plate lfil (Figure 1).

As shown in Figure 1 an envelope feeding hopper [BI is arranged adjacent the left-hand end of conveyor table I65 and beneath the hopper is a metering mechanism generally indicatedat 222 (Figure 2) capable of being operated at either one of two different speeds. This metering mechanism delivers the envelopes into the conveying system, and as the conveyor system may be divided into three different units, namely, metering, conveying and ejecting, the description and construction of the system will follow this same plan of division.

The metering portion 222 of the conveyor system includes a pair of spaced feed belts 22| (Figure 5) which feed belts may be formed of rubber or other suitable material. At one end the two belts are played around a pair of large driving pulleys 22c (Figures 3, 4 and 5), mounted below the envelope hopper and at their opposite ends around a pair of small idler pulleys 225 positioned adjacent the front end of the envelope feed hopper and preferably slightly in advance ofthe stripper mechanism discs I98.

The driving and idler pulleys are mounted within a suitable frame comprising an inner plate 226 anda main supporting plate 221 (Figures 4 and 5) which plates are inter-connected by tie bolts 228 and support at their forward ends the axle 229 upon which the idler rollers 225 are journaled. The drive shaft 230 (Figure 5) upon which the two large driving pulleys 224 are fastened is journaled in frame bearings 23I. The driving shaft 230 extends through the frame supporting plate 221 and carries the driving pulley 232, which pulley, in turn, is provided with a lift cam 233 operating in the manner to be described for raising and lowering the metering portion of the conveyor system to feed envelopes from the hopper. In order to-provide additional support for the envelope engaging run of the conveyor belts 22I, a. pair of rollers 234 are journaled upon axle 235 carried by side plates 226 and 221 of the metering device frame.

This metering device frame 236 is mounted for limited vertical movement, by providing two stub shafts 221a extending from the supporting plate :22! andwhich stub shafts together with -axle 1229 -arepivotally carried by the free end of three supporting levers .231 which levers are in turn pivotally mounted upon studs 238 extending. inwardly from .the front frame plate I60 of the machine. Through the provision of the threeframe supporting levers 231, the meteringdevice frame 236 may be bodily raised to lift .the top run ofthe feed belts 22I into engagement with the under surface of the lowermost envelopein the stack and to thereby apply a sufficient driving force to carry the engaged envelope under the stripper discs I98 While the -succeeding envelopes are held back by said stripper discs. This action will deliver the envelope -to thesecond portion of the conveyor system, :whereupon the metering device frame will be lowered to in turnlower the feed belts 22I out ofiengagement with said envelope and will be lifted thereafterto meter out a second envelope -in-the manner above described. The envelope conveyor plate I65 is provided with two parallel ...slots. 239 (Figurefi) in order to permit the feed belts .22I to b raised into contact with the low- .ermost .of envelopes placed in the feed hopper.

. .-!Ihe.mechanism for raising and lowering the -:metering.device may .include an elevating cam .233v (Figures 3, 4 and .5) which cam as previously stated, is securelyfastened to the driving pulley 232 andduring its rotation cooperates with ..a;cam roller .240 whichroller is mounted upon the .upper end of a suitable post 24I extending upwardly from the main base plate I59 of the machine in the manner shown in Figures 2 and '5. ..Referring to Figure 3, it may be observed therein that the lift portion of the elevating cam 233 has engaged the cam roller 24B and has thereby caused the metering device to be elevated into its feeding position while in Figure 4c, the elevating cam is shown rotated to present its low portion to the cam roller 240 and as a result, the framewill be lowered to the position shown in this figure so that the two feed belts 22: will clear the lowermost envelope placed within the feed hopper. Through the use of the elevating cam 233 and cam roller 24!], the metering device is lifted to feed an envelope from the hoppe'r for each revolution of the driving pulley 232. The metering portion of the conveyor system is provided with an independent driving mechanism whereby it may be driven at relatively high or low speeds when treating long or jshort'envelopes. In Figure 3, the driving means for the metering portion of the conveyor system is shown as it would appear when arranged to drive the metering device at low speed, while in Figure 4, the driving means is shown as it would appear when adjusted for high speed drive. By reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it may be observed that the driving mechanism for the metering portion 222 of the conveyor system I53 includes a belt 242 engaging the metering device driving pulley 232 at one end and at its opposite end engaging the larger diameter groove 243 (Figures 4 and 10) of the two-step pulley 2% of the power plant driving mechanism I55 when the metering device is to be driven at high speed. The belt may be shifted by a belt shifter 30812 (Figure 6) reciprocably mounted in a frame .3II to engage the smaller diameter groove 245 when the metering device is to be driven at low 1 speed.

In order to maintain at all times the proper tension in the driving belt 242 whether the belt engages the larger or smaller groove in the power plant step pulley 244,9. spring weighted tape-up pulley device 245 is employed as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, and is supported from the front frame plate I60.

The metering device is operatedat low speed when feeding standard long envelopes .through the machine. The speed of operation of the I metering device is timed with respect to;other portions of the conveyor system so that ;a 'gap of sufficient length is maintained between the envelopes passing through the machine ito provide space for the envelope trip fingersjto swing into operative position when released "from .one envelope before being engaged by the following envelope. Through this timing, .it. is obvious that the leading end of each successiveienvelope will be spaced a uniform distance apart. Therefore, it follows that for shorter envelopes, the gap between the trailing edge of one envelope and the leading edge of the following envelope will be increased in proportion to the decrease in length of said envelopes. Consequently, when operating on the standard short envelopes, the

distance between the envelopes will begreater than necessary for the return of .the tripping device. Therefore, it is desirable to speed up the metering device with relation .to the other portion of the conveyor systemso thatthegap between said envelopes is reduced, thus permitting a greater number of envelopes to be fed through the machine for a given period of time.

When envelopes are'to be sealedwithoutprinting'postage values thereon, .the metering device 222 of the envelopefeedconveyor system'may'be maintained in its elevated position as shown in Figure 3 to continuously feed the envelopes from the feed hopper thereby greatly increasing the speed of operation of the machine.

' To maintain the metering device 222 in its elevated position for the purpose of sealing, cam 236a frame plate I 60 (Figure'l) to carry a control handle 2360. The elevating cam 236a is of the shape best-shown in Figures 2,3 and 4, and when in its retracted position engages a stop pin 236d which extends from post 2M and while in this position its cam surface is clear of the supporting frame 221 of the metering device 222. When the elevating cam 236a is turned by means of its control handle 2360 to its broken line position, as shown in Figure .3, the lift portion of this cam will engagethe bottom edge of the metering device supporting plate 221 and will lift-and maintain tion as shown in broken lines in this figure, one of the shoulders formed in the cam will engage the stop pin 236d to thereby maintain the cam in "its adjusted position.

The top run of the driving belt 242 is depressed by means of idler pulleys 241 and 248 to clear the I envelope flap moistening device I54, as is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The idler pulley 241 is journaled upon one of the stub shafts 238,

=while the idler pulley 2-48 is journaled upon the sealer roller shaft 249 (Figures 3 and 4) which shaft is journaled in the intermediate frame side plate I6I and bracket 250, which extends upwardly from base I59 of the main frame.

The second portion of the conveyor mechanism includes the conveying means for receiving the envelopes from the metering device 222 and conveying the envelopes through the flap moistening device I54 (Figure 3) and delivering the envelopes to the printing drum of the meter. This portion of the conveyor system is specifically described in the above-noted application, and includes a holddown truck mechanism generally referred to by the reference number 252 (Figures 1 and 2).

The final ejecting portion of the envelope conveyor system I53 receives the envelopes from the hold-down truck mechanism 252 and operates to convey the envelopes past the printing drum and finally to eject the treated envelopes from the machine.

This portion of the envelope conveyor system, which we-have referred to as the final ejecting portion of the conveying system comprises a platen roller mechanism generally indicated at 309 (Figure 4) and a final sealing and ejecting roller device generally indicated at 3I0.

The platen roller mechanism 309 is arranged to automatically maintain the proper pressure against the printing drum of meter I51. for treating the full range of envelope thicknesses permissible by the, capacity of the machine. platen roller mechanism' 309 includes a swing The frame 3I l comprising a front plate 3 I 2 and a rear plate-3L3 (Figure maintained in spaced relaftion by suitable spacer bolts 3I4 and 3I5 (Figures 3, 4 and 6), and the two plates forming the swing frame are pivotally mounted uponpivot shaft 3 I 6 and said swing frame is yieldingly maintained in its normal position of rest by compression spring 3II acting between a pair of lock nuts 3I8 carried by'push rod 3I9 and pivot block 320, pivotally supported between the front frame plate I60 of the machine and bracket 32I (Figures 3 and 4). The upper end of push rod 3I9 is pivotally connected to the spacer bolt 3I5, as may be observed in Figures 3 and 4, while its lower end is provided with a pair of adjusting nuts 322. A resilient washer 323 is mounted on rod 3 l 9 between the adjusting nuts and pivot block to cushion the engagements-of said adjusting nut against said block when the swing frame 3| I is returned to its raised position. Referring more particularly to Figure 10, the

swing frame is provided with bearings 324 and 325 inwhich' the platen drive shaft 326 is journaled. The platen roller 32! is keyed upon the .inner end vof shaft 326 by means of a suitable ...tapered'pin' 328. An ejector roller 323 is posi tioned between the front and rear swing frame plates 3I2 and 3I3 and is mounted on and keyed to shaft326 by taper pin 336. The platen and ejector rollers may be rubber-tired as shown in the drawings.

When the machine is set for sealing envelopes without printing postage thereon, the ejector roller 329 cooperates with a small idler roller 33I (Figure 8) journaled in the printing drum:332 of the meter to convey the envelope past the'printing station and to present the envelope to the final sealing and ejecting rollers 3I0. This same action is attained upon completion of the printing operation.

The swing frame 3 is provided with a power driven rubber-tired conveyor roller 333 and is driven from the platen shaft 326 through a suitable train of gears 334 (Figures 6 and 10). An idler roller 335 mounted in the printing drum housing (Figure 2) cooperates with the roller 333 of the swing frame to assist in conveying the mail matter to and through the printing station. Envelope supporting plate 336 (Figures 1, Z and 6) is connected to swing frame front plate 3I2 by hinge means 33! (Figure 6) which operate to normally maintain plate 336 in a horizontal plane and permit the plate to be swung upwardly to facilitate shifting of the metering device driving belt 242.

The final sealing and ejecting device 3H! may include a driven rubber-tired roller 338 carried by shaft 339 journaled in bracket 340 (Figures 1 and 8) which bracket is suitably fastened to the left side cover plate 34I. A driving connection is formed between the platen driving shaft 326 and roller shaft 339 which driving connection may include providing the step pulley 244 with a belt groove 342 (Figure 10) and a driven pulley 343 (Figures 3 and 4) fastened to shaft 339 and connecting these two pulleys by means of belt 344. As may be observed in Figure 2, a belt tightening roller 345 is mounted upon the underside of the envelope supporting plate 336 and acts to main tain a sufficient tension in the driving belt 344.

Cooperating with roller 338 are two spring weighted pressure rollers, the first of which may be referred to as the creasing roller 346 (Figure 9) and is relatively narrow in width to engage only the flap edge of the envelope to complete the creasing and also assist in the sealing of the flap. The second pressure roller 34! is of greater Width and acts to firmly press the moistened flap against the body of the envelope to effect the final sealing thereof. This roller organization also operates to eject the treated mail matter from the machine.

To prevent pressure roller 34'! from contacting the newly printed stamp on the envelope, and thereby smearing the impression, the portion 348 (Figure 9) of the roller is of sufficiently reduced diameter to clear said newly printed stamp.

The creasing roller 346 is swingably mounted with relation to the main sealing roller 338 to provide for different thicknesses of mail matter passing between these two rollers. The means for mounting the creasing roller may include a hinge plate 349 bifurcated at its free end, and the bifurcated portions are bent to form vertical bearing flanges 350. An axle 35I carried by hearing flanges 356 supports the creasing roller 346. The opposite end of swing plate 349 is bent to form a pair of spaced vertical flanges 352 for hingedly mountingthis end of the plate to hinge pin 353 which pin is supported in bracket 354 (Figures 8 and 9). A torsion spring 355 encircles hinge pin i353 and: acts betweenthe'hinge plate and bracket .toiyieldingly urge the: creasing roller 346 against :the sealing roller338. Theinnermost of the two bearing flanges 350. isfianged rearwardly to .pro-

A inbroken lines in Figure 7.

vide a stop lug 356 which lug overhangs an offset portion 351 of bracket :354. SCIBW-thlffifififidifltf) this portion .of the bracket is an adjusting screw 558 against which'the :stop lug356 engages to Eholdsaid creasing roller in proper-clearance relation with respect to said sealing roller. This clearance is justWsumcient .to hold the creasing roller ;out .of driving engagement with the sealing roller so as not to unduly wear or'deform the rubber surface of said sealing roller.

A similar type of hinge plate 359 is provided for swingablysupportingroller 341 from bracket 354 and said'bracket'isprovided at its free end with spacedbearing flanges 360 for pivotally supporting roller shaft 361 whilethe other end of the hinge plate is provided with flanged brackets-362 for pivotallymounting the plateto hinge pin 353 inthe manner shown in Figures 8. and 9. -A torsion spring363'surrounds hinge-pin 353 between the hinge plate flanges 362 and acts between the plate and bracket 354 to yieldingly urge roller 341 toward the main sealingroller 338. -Ro11er341 is maintained in the same-clearance relation with respect to-the main sealing roller 338 as described for the creasing roller 346 by providing theihinge plate 359 with an ofiset lug- 364 overlying so as to rest upon the uppersurfaceof the creasing roller hinge plate 349. The offset lug .364 of'swine plate 359 does not prevent roller341'from being lifted due to irregularities of the mail matter independently of l the creasingroller 346.

When the machineis adjusted toprint postage indicia upon gummed tape, it is desirable to automatically retract the creasing and pressure rollers 346 and 341 to a position as shown b broken lines in Figure '7, and for this purpose bracket 354 ishinged to the supporting bracket 34!] by pin 365. A-latch member 366 pivotally mounted upon bracket 354 by hinge pin 3.61 is-provided with a latch notch 368 (Figures? and 8) engaging a latch plate 369 securely'fastened upon'the inner face of themain supporting bracket 340. In order to yieldingly maintain the latchmem- .ber in latching relation with plate 369, a compression spring 310 is interposed between' the latch finger 311 and a suitable bore formed in bracket 354. The latch member .is notched as shown at 312 in Figure 7, and a stop pin 313 the innerend of bore 316isenlarged to frictionally bind the springwithin said :bore while the free endofthe spring extends a short distance beyondbracket 354to-engage the mainsuppqrting bracket. 34!) when bracket 354-is in itslatched position and acts uponrelease of latch :member 366 to supplytheforce necessary to swing bracket member354 to itsretracted position as-shown In this figure the free end of the retracting spring 3151111357138 seen projecting from bracket member 354 when swung to its-retracted position.

.plates thereof.

assatoi The .creasingpressure rollers 346 and)" (Fig ure 9) are manually returned to their normal operative position, i but'may be tripped automaticallyito swing .to'their retracted position upon removal of the meter or .when-shiftingthe tape feeding device from its non-printing to itsprinting position in amanner described in'the application of Frank P.;Sager .et al., Serial No..332,-305, filed April 29, 19.40.

When the finalsealingand ejecting device 310 (Figure 1) .is in its normal operating positionand the machine is set for treatingmail matter, a receiving hopper 311 may be attached to end plate 34! of the machineto receive the envelopes or other mail matter-as theyare-ejected fromthe "final sealing and-ejectorrollers 3H). To support the receiving hopper 311 from end plate 341, groove studs318 areprovided (Figures1;and.2)

for receiving the bifurcated flanged brackets'319 formed on the -,end of theireceiving hopper. .The receiving hopper may be of any suitable :construction, but-as showninFigure 1 ofthedrawings, may includes. body portion consistingpf a base 386together with an integrally associated back-plate 36!. It may also be Provided with'an end plate 382-mounted upon slide bar 383 which bar is-slidably-mounted upon the under surface ,of the base portion 366=in.anysuitable.manner not shown. Theslidebar-383 mayrbetprovided with a knob 364 toprovide a convenienthandle for adjusting the end plate withrelation .to the hopper. It is desirable to provide thehopper with a false bottom 385 soshaped as to cause-the envelopes to stack against the back and end The false bottom may be .attached to the end plate in any suitable manner. Preferably there is provided a wedge-shaped block 385a which issecured to false bottom 385 and which elevates the stack of mail from the false bottom to facilitate entry of the ,fingers under the mail when it is ready to be removed from the hopper. As shown in-Figure 1, thereceiving hopper isprovided with lug 386 engaging end plate :34l to provide a third pointof support from said plate and thereby stabilizing the hop- The conveyor system just described constitutes .one of the important features of this invention and operates to emciently meter, convey-andeject envelopes throughthe treating elements .of .the machine and is provided with. suitable adjustments toenable this system to ,effectivelyhandle envelopes of various lengths, widths, and thicknesses. In operating the system it is .recommended that the mail matter be segregated for value of postage to be printed thereon, for length, width and thickness. With thelselection of one of the segregated groups for treatment, the meter will be adjusted to print the selected 'value of stamp thereonand the envelope .feed

, hopperadjusted to suit the length. and widthof envelope, the stripper and hold-down truck mechanisms adjusted to suit the thickness of said envelopes, and thereafter the machine may be or left unsealed at the optionof the operator.

It-does not require special adjustment :of..the

machine to provide for ;the moistening 3.0111118 envelope flaps, whetherithe flaps are .otrstandard or special shape, deep orshallow, long .or short.

For those envelopes which are to have their flaps moistened for sealing, the operator need only stack such envelopes in the feed hopper with their flaps nested and hanging down over the envelope supporting plate I65. If the envelopes are not to be sealed, the operator should place the same in the hopper with their flaps folded against the body portion thereof. The envelopes which are to be sealed and those which are not to be sealed may be stacked indiscriminately within the feed hopper in the manner above described, and the flaps of those envelopes which are to be sealed will be automatic-ally moistened while the flaps of the other envelopes will pass free of the moistening device.

From the above it may be seen that I have provided a conveying mechanism which is capable of obtaining the objects set forth hereinabove in an efiicient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a conveyor mechanism for feeding objects from the feed hopper of an object treating machine, a carriage mounted for movement relative to the machine frame, pulley means journaled in the carriage, conveyor belt means for said pulley means, means for driving the conveyor belt means, cam means operatively carried by said carriage and arranged to be driven by said pulley means, anda cam follower fixedly mounted upon the machine frame and arranged to be engaged by said cam means for periodically raising the carriage to lift the upper run of the conveyor belt means above the floor of the hopper to engage and eject the lowermost object from said hopper each time the carriage is raised.

2. In a conveyor mechanism for feeding objects from the feed hopper of an object treating machine; a carriage mounted for movement relative to the machine frame, pulley means journaled in the carriage, conveyor belt means for said pulley means, driving means for said pulley means, cam means operatively carried by said carriage and arranged to be driven by said driving means, 'a cam follower fixedly mounted upon the machine frame and arranged to be engaged by said cam means for periodically raising the carriage to lift the upper run of the conveyor belt means above the floor of the hopper to engage and eject the 1owermost object from said hopper each time the carriage is raised, and means manually operable for lifting and holding the carriage raised to maintain the upper run of the conveyor belt means above the floor of the hopper for continuously feeding objects therefrom.

3. In a conveyor mechanism for feeding objects from the feed hopper of an object treating machine, in combination, a carriage mounted below said hopper for movement relative to the machine frame, friction means mounted on said carriage and movable relative thereto, said friction means being disposed below said feed hopper and movable toward and away from said hopper, said friction means also being movable in a direction to feed objects from said hopper, a pulley, a belt for driving said pulley, and means forming a driving connection between said pulley and said carriage and friction means for positively moving said friction means into objectengaging position and for driving said friction means in object feeding direction.

4. In a conveyor mechanism for feeding objects from the feed hopper of an object treating machine, in combination, a carriage mounted below said hopper for movement relative to the machine frame, friction means mounted on said carriage and movable relative thereto, said friction means being disposed below said feed hopper and movable toward and away from said hopper, said friction means also being movable in a direction to feed objects from said hopper, a pulley, a belt for driving said pulley, means forming a driving connection between said pulley and said carriage and friction means for positively moving said friction means into object engaging position and for driving said friction means in object feeding direction, said friction means being responsive to the force of gravity so as to fall away from its object engaging position after an object has been fed from said hopper.

5. In a conveyor mechanism for feeding objects from the feed hopper of an object treating machine, in combination, a table provided with slots, a hopper on said table, a carriage mounted below said table and underneath said hopper for movement toward and away from said table, friction treaded means mounted on said carriage and adapted to be moved thereby through said slots in said table to engage the under surface of the bottommost of a number of objects stacked in said hopper to feed it therefrom, means for moving said carriage toward and away from said able and means for driving said friction treaded means.

, 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means are provided for operating said driving means at different rates of speed.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein means 'are provided which are operable for lifting and holding said carriage in a position wherein said friction treaded means is maintained in a position of constant engagement relative to the position of the lowermost object of said hopper.

COMMODORE D. RYAN. 

